Hmmph... this junior is a good seed [Cultivation Management Quest]

[occipitallobe]

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Omake Writer Instructions:

There are four fields you need to fill out.

Omake Link, which is just a link to your first omake for the turn. This makes it easier for me to read them as I do the update - without this it's tough to know off the bat which omake were written this turn, and to properly

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All other fields are for QM use to record character information to properly run the flow of the game.

 

[Katana1515]

Am I close on any of my thoughts? Like, not necessarily "Did I manage to guess any of the Pillars?" but rather am I on the same sort of wavelength of 'what you are trying to go for with the third circle of three'?

Click to shrink...

You hit the bullseye with the Death Pillar, I was definitely leaning on the Tarot symbolism when I came up with the idea! The original idea was for a 9 pillar path, a circle of flesh (external physical transformative forces), a circle of the soul (Internal spiritual forces) and capped with a circle of the heavens (currently scouting for a better name) a trio of external spiritual forces. The things that can change a person's journey through life that they have no real control over themselves, they are so everpresent you might not even notice their presence on a conscious level, or so potent that they can't be sidetracked or ignored.

These would be Community, Fortune and Tribulation. Community for the reasons outlined in the omake, as humans our social ties have an impact on the shape of just about everything about us. Fortune is a reflection that the whims of good and bad luck have a huge impact on daily life as well, while also tieing into the fact that Fate Manipulation seems to be the unique trait of the 8th Pillar. For the last one, if you're going maximum hubris and building a capstone Emperors Pillar, then you can't go wrong with the ultimate transformative force in a Xianxia setting, the favoured tool of the Heavens when it comes time to test, destroy, or elevate a Cultivator.

You definitely could build it out as an entire Circle of Community like you suggest, but I don't really see that as Minervina's path. She doesn't have a lot of time for fixed Ideals, she doesn't care to pin down her commitments in exact terms beyond her loyalty to family and Clan. She walked away from the idea of Justice a long time ago when she gave up on a Dao of Vengeance. She would see both those things as deeply fallable human constructs, as malleable and impermanent as the civilisation that invented them, while her Pillars either draw on carefully cultivated aspects of her own self (Intent, Revelation) or universal constants that will outlast any credo she could invent or subscribe to (Life, Death and so on).

Of course, that final circle is likely to remain theoretical. The good fortune this turn makes 8th Pillar look doable, but I don't know yet if I have the fortitude or patience to make it to the 9th.

 

[Katana1515]

Yet this doesn't explain why when I went out looking for metal to try metalworking some ideas from my old world I found that bronze is more common than tin, copper or even iron. As far as I can tell the desert that we call home doesn't have a super unusual concentration of either tin or copper mines. Although if it did it still would not explain why the alloy of tin and copper which takes effort to make is more common here than both of its component parts. At first I thought it might be something silly like this world having actually bronze mines, but no it doesn't.

Click to shrink...

You should definitely read Hmmph... this junior is a good seed [Cultivation Management Quest] Original - Fantasy before your next Omake. @BadAtScreenNames idea was so cool it's cropped up in a bunch of other peoples Omake since. I would love to see your Isekai Good Seeds response to the concept of Gravebronze

 

[BadAtScreenNames]

You should definitely read Hmmph... this junior is a good seed [Cultivation Management Quest] Original - Fantasy before your next Omake. @BadAtScreenNames idea was so cool it's cropped up in a bunch of other peoples Omake since. I would love to see your Isekai Good Seeds response to the concept of Gravebronze

Click to shrink...

....oooh. Yeah. Given your seed has real world 21st century morals, that is going to upset him. The Angelus got their Panoplia back recently too.

 

[fictionfan]

You should definitely read Hmmph... this junior is a good seed [Cultivation Management Quest] Original - Fantasy before your next Omake. @BadAtScreenNames idea was so cool it's cropped up in a bunch of other peoples Omake since. I would love to see your Isekai Good Seeds response to the concept of Gravebronze

Click to shrink...

Well that is a huge contradiction. Here I am talking about how this land has huge amounts of bronze and apparently there is a terrible shortage. Unless GraveBronze is somehow far superior and I can take that talk of
There are few copper mines in their territory, and those that do exist produce little metal, and poor quality at that.
as the ignorance of outsiders that don't know what they are talking about?

 

[Kaboomatic]

Well that is a huge contradiction. Here I am talking about how this land has huge amounts of bronze and apparently there is a terrible shortage. Unless GraveBronze is somehow far superior and I can take that talk of
There are few copper mines in their territory, and those that do exist produce little metal, and poor quality at that.
as the ignorance of outsiders that don't know what they are talking about?

Click to shrink...

Gravebronze is bronze made out of dead clan members

I'd echo katana here in saying read the threadmarks if you haven't already

 

[fictionfan]

Gravebronze is bronze made out of dead clan members

I'd echo katana here in saying read the threadmarks if you haven't already

Click to shrink...

I have. I even quoted it in the post you just quoted. My worry is about the contradiction. But yes I likely can have an Omake talking about gravebronze.

 

[BadAtScreenNames]

I have. I even quoted it in the post you just quoted. My worry is about the contradiction. But yes I likely can have an Omake talking about gravebronze.

Click to shrink...

Don't worry, the reason I left the talk of *why* exactly the GD use gravebronze in the Jingshen's voice is specifically for this situation. Plus, given the nature of how omake are generated, we tend to be pretty chill about contradictions in the fluff. I would *love* to see Abel freak out about how he's wearing the corpses of his elders when he puts his armour on, though!

 

[Mochinator]

I have. I even quoted it in the post you just quoted. My worry is about the contradiction. But yes I likely can have an Omake talking about gravebronze.

Click to shrink...

Na that's fine. In your omake, you had him wondering about the Super Bronze that the Cultivators are using, so that can be the revelation on where the Bronze for gear is coming from

We can still have norm bronze for export + norm stuff. Just that for the clan? Why go for it when we have Gravebronze? Even if the Bronze there is better or more practical, there is a cultural impetus in using Gravebronze. It's the imagery of serving the clan after death, self-sacrificial taken to the extreme because during the Clan's darkest moments we can only count on ourselves.

Like the Wealth hit by heaven is a thing, so you could in stuff about how sometimes deposits just dry up or essential resources become more expensive etc. It's very much a cultural thing which to a modern person would be weird since it's desecration.

 

[fictionfan]

Na that's fine. In your omake, you had him wondering about the Super Bronze that the Cultivators are using, so that can be the revelation on where the Bronze for gear is coming from

We can still have norm bronze for export + norm stuff. Just that for the clan? Why go for it when we have Gravebronze? Even if the Bronze there is better or more practical, there is a cultural impetus in using Gravebronze. It's the imagery of serving the clan after death, self-sacrificial taken to the extreme because during the Clan's darkest moments we can only count on ourselves.

Like the Wealth hit by heaven is a thing, so you could in stuff about how sometimes deposits just dry up or essential resources become more expensive etc. It's very much a cultural thing which to a modern person would be weird since it's desecration.

Click to shrink...

Eh, I am personally signed up as an organ donor and the rest of my body for science in case of accident and bronze seems way less icky. Still might give Abel a start if he is wearing it when he first hears about it.

 

[Quest]

Well that is a huge contradiction. Here I am talking about how this land has huge amounts of bronze and apparently there is a terrible shortage. Unless GraveBronze is somehow far superior and I can take that talk of
There are few copper mines in their territory, and those that do exist produce little metal, and poor quality at that.
as the ignorance of outsiders that don't know what they are talking about?

Click to shrink...

It logically would be superior I think. As a cultivator cultivates, their body is improved. So gravebronze processed from the body of a ninth heavenstage cultivator would be able to withstand blows of that level and be already streamlined for formations and standard golden devil arts. A sword with like a centurion's nerve running through it's edge would be an incredible treasure for juniors as it would conduct qi beyond anything a qi condensing cultivator would be capable of by themselves.

I imagine there would be a full sub-industry with Legate-class gravebronze even retaining aspects of their daos and being carefully controlled resources for use in arrays and items.

 

[BadAtScreenNames]

Na that's fine. In your omake, you had him wondering about the Super Bronze that the Cultivators are using, so that can be the revelation on where the Bronze for gear is coming from

We can still have norm bronze for export + norm stuff. Just that for the clan? Why go for it when we have Gravebronze? Even if the Bronze there is better or more practical, there is a cultural impetus in using Gravebronze. It's the imagery of serving the clan after death, self-sacrificial taken to the extreme because during the Clan's darkest moments we can only count on ourselves.

Like the Wealth hit by heaven is a thing, so you could in stuff about how sometimes deposits just dry up or essential resources become more expensive etc. It's very much a cultural thing which to a modern person would be weird since it's desecration.

Click to shrink...

That might actually be fun - the idea that there's tonnes of tin and copper deposits in the clan territories, but they all keep drying up when the curse gets to them, so there *is* a big surplus of normal bronze in a thousand shapes and sizes, but there's fuck-all that you can rely on long-term, thus disrupting logistics because you have to keep setting it up again. Or you can just use a mortuary-forge, which immediately solves the problem.

 

[Garlak]

Of course, that final circle is likely to remain theoretical. The good fortune this turn makes 8th Pillar look doable, but I don't know yet if I have the fortitude or patience to make it to the 9th.

Click to shrink...

Hm. Patience and fortitude huh. Yeah, that's true -- even though you're only at age 200 out of 500 max and thus while you theoretically could spend the next 300 years (15 turns) in Foundation Establishment... Realistically, blargh. And all the while you'd be in not just the same Great Realm, but in the same Stage too. And we don't even know how long it takes to hit 9th Pillar. Though I guess finding out about 9th Pillar might be worthwhile.

Well, I guess it'll depend on how Turn 10's Qiguai and Turn 11's Man-as-World Mountain Array secret realms go then, huh. Maybe you'll be fantastically lucky and advance 100 or 200 years in 2 turns. Or more.

Maybe Secret Realms give more cultivation-year rewards in higher realms -- as 20 years means more to a Qi Condensation cultivator than to one in Foundation Establishment. So to remain worth going in, maybe higher Great Realms can get more. Then again, some people get zero years of Cultivation in a turn, so +20 years is not to be scoffed at, and there's always the possibility of Treasures and Impact. ... Though, still. Imagine a Core Formation or Nascent Soul going in. And getting just a few years boosts. Doesn't feel too worthwhile.

... Core Formation's breakthrough, and then Nascent Soul, going to be interesting, then. As, it requires getting a new Dao, and is described as sort of being like back in Foundation Establishment and the stage of Discovery again; needing to come up with new stuff for yourself again and to advance in new ways. And the Soul Aperture is like a new world that contains life. Which is a fascinating thing to play around with, especially if you had dao-pillars of life or medicine or the like.

Which... means another set of stuff to come up with, or stuff to build on on the foundation or world you left behind, or... Or who knows. Of course, that's very far away. Like 30 turns away, and the Clan might be unable to afford another Nascent Soul then, and who knows if another Good Seed might have reached it first anyway, or who knows what else might have happened.

EDIT: Anyway! I remembered another topic I wanted to bring up, to Minervina -- and any others with Poison or Medicinal or Healing-related Daos!

... How do you guys feel... about...

... Paying a visit to the Spirit Oasis in the Jingshen Lands?

Like. Those are open to customers, after all. It takes money of course, but.

The Spirit Oasis might be a source of writing inspiration, for anybody who is looking into healing others, or extending lifespans, or experimenting with life and healing. Or creating life or who knows.

(Although it could also of course be writing-fodder for everybody. Anybody who is interesting in getting healing for themselves or others.)

 

[BadAtScreenNames]

Anyway! I remembered another topic I wanted to bring up, to Minervina -- and any others with Poison or Medicinal or Healing-related Daos!

... How do you guys feel... about...

... Paying a visit to the Spirit Oasis in the Jingshen Lands?

Like. Those are open to customers, after all. It takes money of course, but.

The Spirit Oasis might be a source of writing inspiration, for anybody who is looking into healing others, or extending lifespans, or experimenting with life and healing. Or creating life or who knows.

(Although it could also of course be writing-fodder for everybody. Anybody who is interesting in getting healing for themselves or others.)

Click to shrink...

Well, Maria's going into Qigai with one LST. So she might need healing *quite* badly.

 

[Garlak]

Not sure what exactly happened there @BadAtScreenNames but the post got all hyperlinked. Oh, you already fixed that I see.

Going into the Trials and a Secret Realm with just 1 LST huh? That's bold. Though, checking the spreadsheet real fast, it looks like only 2 people have 3 LSTs. Everyone else has 1 or 2. So, not exactly uncommon come to think of it. Best of luck to you in Qiguai!

Best of luck to everybody, really. Both for the rest of Turn 9, and for Turn 10's Trials. And thanks for letting me avoid double-posting.
-----------------------------------------------

You hit the bullseye with the Death Pillar, I was definitely leaning on the Tarot symbolism when I came up with the idea! The original idea was for a 9 pillar path, a circle of flesh (external physical transformative forces), a circle of the soul (Internal spiritual forces) and capped with a circle of the heavens (currently scouting for a better name) a trio of external spiritual forces. The things that can change a person's journey through life that they have no real control over themselves, they are so everpresent you might not even notice their presence on a conscious level, or so potent that they can't be sidetracked or ignored.

Click to shrink...

Hmm... Let me take a shot at a name or idea then. Whether for the circle itself or a pillar or something else.



"The World" Whether from Persona or the Major Arcana or using bits of both.

I mean, that really does encapsulate "the stuff outside of yourself that changes, determines, or is ever-present, and is part of your journey." It's all of the things that helped make you who you grew to be. And full of all the things that will bring a smile to your face or kick you in the groin. (... Which I guess means that if/when she shatters her Core and ascends to Nascent Soul, she becomes The Fool. Starting her journey anew.) Heh. As a bonus, the Imperial Optimatoi are probably a lot more fond of the world than they are of the Heavens. So culturally it'd feel appropriate to not reference the Heavens.

Though, The World can also represent the end of, or the whole of, The Journey. Which means it'd also feel appropriate to reserve it as a name for what happens when you ascent to a Nascent Soul, and have a mini-world of your own. Hm. On the other hand, calling your inner world "The World" feels less punchy than calling a grouping of pillars that. It still works of course; like calling a home "home." But it doesn't have the Tarot inspiration/implication if you're naming a world that, because you're just naming a thing as itself. Then again, could still be appropriate; the world as the conclusion of the, or a, journey.

Could just call the Core that eventually gets formed from fusing all those pillars that. The World. Man as world, as cosmic egg, world-egg. ... Wait no. Dao of Transformation... A whole world or planet... ... The name's gotta be Unicron. Gotta be. Or the other world-sized Transformer.

These would be Community, Fortune and Tribulation. Community for the reasons outlined in the omake, as humans our social ties have an impact on the shape of just about everything about us. Fortune is a reflection that the whims of good and bad luck have a huge impact on daily life as well, while also tieing into the fact that Fate Manipulation seems to be the unique trait of the 8th Pillar. For the last one, if you're going maximum hubris and building a capstone Emperors Pillar, then you can't go wrong with the ultimate transformative force in a Xianxia setting, the favoured tool of the Heavens when it comes time to test, destroy, or elevate a Cultivator.

Click to shrink...

"Fortune" definitely sounds like an awesome Pillar to pick up, because of the very fact that you are picking it up in the very Stage that gives you a Bonus to Luck. Very appropriate, yeah. Picking "Tribulation" at a time of maximum hubris also feels appropriately cheeky too. The final pillar before you undergo Tribulation, and the pillar is named after it.


Though, when I read that the theme was about external things that shape you and your journey, I was expecting to see "Time" make it onto the trio. Because, of the things that can change the nature of a man, one of those is simple time. Things change. Things stay the same. People and buildings and animals and weapons get older. Trees grow strong or wither. Mountains crumble, seas recede.

Time changes a person, yes, by aging him... but it is not just a personal, physical change like would fall under the Death (and Life) Pillar. Because time changes other people and changes the world too. It takes away opportunity, it brings opportunity, it makes some people's memories grow fonder; others it makes fade. Time, too, is the length by which you measure an endeavor or journey. A city can become a ruin, given time. Or be born from nothingness and grow bustling and strong. Time has its cycles and time is a transformative force; and it acts not just upon you, but upon all others and the world entire. Memento mori, Imperator.

... Unfortunately, there just doesn't seem to be enough room to fit Time in. Not with People, Fortune, and Tribulation already in there. And those are big three things already.

 

[Quest]

Just something I wrote for fun. The way Xiao Yingzi presents to her juniors is drastically more affected than she does with those she considers her seniors.

Xiao Yingzi 10
[Turn 7]
[Senior Sister]​

Little Stone had considered herself a talent when she had first arrived at the Dawn Fortress. She had what she modestly considered an incredible work ethic and at thirty three, she was incredibly close to the threshold that indicated she had reached the first heavenstage. All she needed to do was keep to her routine and in a year or two, she would be able to call herself a legionnaire in truth.

Then she shifted to her new boarding house. It had one of the best concentrations of ambient qi in the fortress and she even had access to private rooms and in-house private instructors ready and willing to make time for talented juniors like her. It was exactly what she needed for the final push but she couldn't help but be distracted by the mysterious resident of the room across from her.

It began when she had simply inquired about her neighbours from a trainer during her first night there. When he had listed her every neighbour and how to interact with them but hadn't mentioned the room directly across from her, she found her interest piqued. Especially when he'd hesitantly admitted he didn't know much after she asked directly.

Later, after speaking to the girl to the side of her she got part of the story. As far as Ember, her new friend could tell the girl across from them seemed to spend nearly all of her time in her room. She'd apparently been there for at least a year and she hadn't taken any missions or even come out to eat in the cafeteria.

Ember bombastically claimed that the girl in there had died years ago and now her spirit haunted it, preventing anyone from using it. Little Stone found that implausible. Even if a ghost was there, wouldn't her trainers have just said so? No, she found that the more plausible theory by far was a blood path user who sustained herself by slowly feeding off of a corpse.

Unfortunately, her confident assertion was quickly challenged and things escalated from there until Little Stone found herself approaching the girl's room while Ember watched carefully from behind her door. She hesitated in front of it and turned back to her new friends. "If I die, I'm coming back as a ghost to haunt you!" She loud-whispered back at them.

"If it's a blood path cultivator that kills you, you wouldn't turn into a ghost!" Ember loud-whispered back and Little Stone couldn't say with certainty that she was wrong. She gulped and held up her hand to knock on the door when it swung open, revealing a young woman dressed casually in a toga.

"Can I help you?" She asked, giving her a confused smile. Little Stone heard a squeak behind her as Ember shut her door and ran inside, leaving her stranded in front of this total stranger. She thought faster than she'd ever done before in her life and gave the woman the best neighbourly smile she could muster.

Then she held up her hand and waved, saying the first thing that came to her mind. "Hi!" She said cheerfully. "I'm your new neighbour." She was forced out after that. "I was hoping I could borrow some sugar?" The woman raised an eyebrow at that and Little Stone couldn't take it anymore. She clasped her hands and bowed her head. "I'm sorry, I was here on a dare and I'm sorry I thought you were a blood path cultivator. Please don't kill me and turn me into a ghost."

"What?" The woman seemed aback for a moment. "Seriously?" Her voice had a degree of mirthful disbelief to it and Little Stone felt her heart beat faster. "Oh you poor dear, I'm not going to eat you. Come on in, I'll get you something to drink."

Little Stone looked at her and found her smiling kindly down at her. She slowly nodded and the woman moved back, making space for her to come in. "Don't worry, I really don't bite." The woman continued, giving her a grin. "I don't even nibble." She hesitated for a moment before entering and the woman sighed. "I swear, I'll even keep the door open." She said once more, with a touch of exasperation. "And really, you can leave too if you think that would be better."

Shaking her head quickly, Little Stone rushed inside to find a bright room much like her own. The only major difference was personal effects. A strange spear leaned on the wall, a half-eaten plate of bread and vegetables lay on the desk. The sight of that made her let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Ah," She said, trying to get her mouth working after her earlier blunder. "Did I interrupt your meal?"

"Oh, don't worry. Meals are always better with company." The woman replied. "Please take a seat and I'll get you a glass of water." Little Stone looked from the well-made bed to the chair near the desk where the food was, before quickly moving towards the bed. By the time she sat down, the woman already had a glass of water in her hand.

She frowned as she took it, surreptitiously scanning the room once more. Where had the glass of water even come from? As the woman took a seat on the chair, she saw the glint of a ring on her finger and a sense of understanding suddenly came upon her. A storage ring? "Thank you for your invitation, Elder Sister?" It came out as too much of a question but when the senior sister smiled approvingly, she felt a sense of accomplishment.

"Please, call me Xiao Yingzi." The senior sister replied and Little Pebble found herself reaching for her qi in order to gauge how strong her sister was. To her surprise, she felt entirely like a mortal. Was she wrong or was her senior just that good? "Now, I'm curious. What kind of rumours are going on about me outside?"

"Yes, Sister Yingzi." She found herself staring at the glass as she spoke and took a sip to buy some time to think. "I heard that you were a ghost."

"And also a blood path cultivator?" Sister Yingzi asked, her voice teasing. Little Stone blushed and wished she could disappear. "Oh, don't fret. I'd expected such rumors after I've been holed up here for so long."

"If I may ask, why are you here Senior Sister?" She asked, seizing the opening. She looked up at her senior sister who just shrugged.

"I'm currently going through closed door cultivation or at least an equivalent of it." She explained. "This was the cheapest place that wasn't completely terrible."

Cheap. It had taken her years to get to the point she could afford to stay here. Legionnaires truly had an entirely different perspective from aspirants. "Has your cultivation been effective?" She politely inquired.

"Quite effective, thank you." She replied, giving her a smile as she returned to eating. "I'm nearly at the ninth heavenstage already. A few more months and I should reach my goal."

Ninth Heavenstage… Little Stone felt faint. That was a level she couldn't dream of. How many centuries old could this expert be? What unfathomable experiences has she been through? She found herself bowing again. "Senior Sister, please give this unworthy one some pointers." She asked, knowing she might never have such a chance again.

The senior sister said nothing and Little Stone started to feel conspicuous as time went on. Finally, she lifted her head with trepidation to see Sister Yingzi looking at her with amusement. "Sorry, I wanted to see how long you'd stay bowed." She replied, smiling apologetically. "Next time, keep it up longer. You'd be surprised at how many of your seniors would cave if you keep it up long enough."

"Would you help me then?" She asked, feeling a bit unsure. Did that mean she needed to start bowing again?

"I don't have the time to mentor you," Sister Yingzi admitted to her dismay. "But some join me around this time tomorrow. Some company while I eat might be nice and I can certainly give you some advice then."

Little Stone nodded happily, glad to have another chance to speak to her. "Thank you, Senior Sister." She replied, giving her a smile. "I am happy I could help in some small way for your journey."

"Oh and for today." She held out her hand and suddenly a spirit stone appeared in it. Little Stone's eyes widened as she extended her senses to it. It was enough to breakthrough tonight! "You should find that useful for your cultivation."

She stood and bowed deeply. "That you for everything, Senior Sister." She said excitedly as she took the stone. She looked at the bed and then at the door. Wait, was that a dismissal or not?

"You may go," The senior replied, grinning. "Oh and bring your friend next time."

Little Stone blinked as she realised she'd forgotten about Ember in all of this and how she left her behind. "I will gladly bring her to you, Senior Sister." She replied. "This time tomorrow, right?"

She nodded, bemused and likely knowing exactly what was going on in her mind but Little Stone didn't care as she strode back into her room. Yes, she'd definitely bring her but not after terrifying a little for revenge. A ghost returned to take vengeance. Yes, that will work perfectly…

| | | | | | | | |​

As the aspirant left, Xiao Yingzi relaxed her demeanor and let her smile disappear from her face. How was that? She asked Elder Teleos.

An excellent performance. The Elder agreed. And a lovely use of bribery. However, you'll need to temper your approach a fair bit before you can handle your own century. It is good enough for now, however and a few more interactions especially with more participants should help you shore up any limitations. We'll look into this more than that after you break through and of course, I'll be available to advice you whenever you need it.

As you say, Elder. Xiao Yingzi inclined her head in thanks. Let us return to my cultivation then.

 

[Katana1515]

Though, The World can also represent the end of, or the whole of, The Journey. Which means it'd also feel appropriate to reserve it as a name for what happens when you ascent to a Nascent Soul, and have a mini-world of your own. Hm. On the other hand, calling your inner world "The World" feels less punchy than calling a grouping of pillars that. It still works of course; like calling a home "home." But it doesn't have the Tarot inspiration/implication if you're naming a world that, because you're just naming a thing as itself. Then again, could still be appropriate; the world as the conclusion of the, or a, journey.

Click to shrink...

That fits so well I am genuinely a little annoyed it didn't occur to me on its own! Consider your idea stolen good sir.

Time or Entropy definitely could have been one of the Pillars, but like you say, I only have so many! That and I run a Mage The Awakening game every week. Time Powers already give me enough headaches without loading Minervina up with them as well. God knows what she would get up to with those.

 

[TheCount]

Poison someone's great grand son when not even thier grandpa was born, due to propechy, somehow.

Or just continue bullying Magnus descendants even after her death

 

[Garlak]

Poison someone's great grand son when not even thier grandpa was born, due to propechy, somehow.

Or just continue bullying Magnus descendants even after her death

Click to shrink...

Getting drunk and pulling a "Ghost of Christmas Future" prank on herself. Specifically, her waking-up-from-the-hangover self. Sshe thinks it's a prophecy or her future self coming back to warn her or whatever. Actually she just set all that up while she was drunk and can't remember. She then has to set off on a journey of self-discovery which will end with finding out that the knowledge was within her all along. (Specifically, in her left coat pocket, where she'd left a note just in case she didn't remember what she got up to while drunk.)

She will have learned a valuable lesson about how to properly make preparations for being intoxicated or memory gambits, how to recover from memory lapses or benders in case your preparations were insufficient, and also that the Ninth Prince really is invincible below Nascent Soul in the arena of imbibing spirits...

Time Powers already give me enough headaches without loading Minervina up with them as well. God knows what she would get up to with those.

Click to shrink...

Have an excuse to shit-talk/loot/rival/etc two Demonic Sects in the Great Battlefield? First, it would have been the Noble Knowledge Sect for their poisons. Now, she'd have a narrative reason to run into -- or clash with or go after or be challenged by -- the Heavenly Time Shatter Sect too.

Like martial artists, for cultivators it's important to have rivals to compete against, challenge, and be annoyed by in order to grow stronger. As well as Old Masters and Seniors to inspire you and measure yourself against.

 

[LordEdric]

Magnus Centenius
​

Magnus Pt. 21 - Expanding Base, Extra Arms, and Stealth Mission

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Magnus had been have a good decade, for the first time in a century. He had solidified his 1st Pillar after years of work and his business that had fallen by the wayside due to losing control to his new arms and the following war, had done well for itself. It had nearly been 80 years since the loss of his arms, and the grand opening of his Inn/Restaurant/tea house the Dark Gold. So far, it had developed a passable reputation as a decent inn, a good restaurant and an excellent tea house. The Tea Journeywoman Magnus hired decades ago, Mei, had become a Master on the edge of reaching Grandmaster. Thanks to her, the tea house was renovated to include areas for the 4 arts, Painting, Calligraphy, Music, and Go. Masters showed off their arts with students eagerly surrounding them. Now the Tea house alone had paid for the whole building 3 time over. Not that the Tea House was the only part that grew.

The Restaurant at the top of the Inn also gained a good reputation. The Head Chef, Soma, had also broken through to the Master level, but he only reached it a decade ago. It was thanks to the new higher quality materials Magnus could now bring in that Soma could breakthrough himself. Since the breakthrough was so resent, the word of his new skill had yet to spread. That also meant that the upgrades to the Kitchen were ongoing. Luckily, snacks and other food delivered to the Tea House help boost its income and reputation. The inn had also received some upgrades over the years, but its reputation was over shadowed by the much more successful businesses around it.

Even after all the upgrades and changes, Magnus had twice the money he started with before building the Dark Gold. It was time for Magnus to finally expand his base. His original idea to work with the other Thirteen to make a base together fell through as many of the others were either too busy recovering from the trials or had their own clan homes to use.

Magnus redesigned the base and build up a poison pill hall next. It was shaped like a 8 pointed star, with a central building and 8 hall coming out of it. Each hall was represented with Yin, Yang, Fire, Metal, Water, Earth, Wood, and Apprentice, while the Central Building was for Private Work Rooms and Magnus's personal work space. Each hall had their own Qi gathering formation to allow stronger pills and poisons to be formed for each element. The Central Building has the 5 Elements in Yin Yang Balance Formation put in. It mixed the bleed over form the 7 main halls and pure Qi from the Apprentice hall to make a stronger purer Qi for the Central Building to use.

The full construction of all the halls would take years, but the Central Building and more importantly, Magnus's personal workroom, was finished in a year. Magnus finally got a chance to start making more puppet arms for himself. After reaching FB level, Magnus could now control 18 arms. For ease of use, Magnus made his arms in sets of 4.

The first set he made, looked more like several bats with spikes coming out of them than arms. These are control arms that let him better control and direct his other extra arms. No matter how formidable a cultivator's mind is, it can't split itself a dozen different ways without a very specialized cultivation technique. To avoid over specializing, these control arms with bound puppets souls would help control the arms for the cultivator. These control arms used to maimed and mangled puppet soul that dared to use Magnus's body as its own puppet. And since this puppet had controlled Magnus for a time, it had much higher compatibility with Magnus than other puppet souls.

The next set was made for high levels of control and precision. They were almost useless in battle, but were excellent in the labs. Magnus had signed up for an infiltration mission to sabotage a spirit stone drill and with these new arms, he should be able to make even better poisons.

His final set of arms were designed for long range combat. During the siege at Three Frog City, Magnus realized that he really didn't have many long range options. Most of his ranged abilities depended on his throwing arm or were medium range at most. Thus, he build a pill launcher in the arms that would send his poisons huge distances into enemies. The small size of the pills and the pill's design to burst on contact meant that even if an enemy could spot and hit the pill, the poison would still spread. While these were not as useful on this mission, they could help him escape if things went wrong.
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Magnus knew this next decade would not be as nice as the first. He could not believe he was working for Minervina in his own private lab. They were going on the same mission to sabotage a Jingshen spirit stone mine's drill. And Being the only 2 poison masters on this mission, they would have to be the ones to actually sabotage the drill. Magnus personally was conflicted with working with her again after how it ended last time. On the one hand, he did manage to kill a Core Realm Expert, on the puppet hand, he did lose both his hands. Still, he did learn a bit as he watched her brew Memory-Hole Poisons, Forget-My-Name Poison, and Confusion Concoctions. Magnus spent most of his time making the Qi-Burning Poison they would be adding to the drill. And thus a few years pasted in the blink of an eye.

Magnus and Minervina had made it into the city by splitting up. A merchant caravan having 1 FB expert pill maker was possible if rare, but 2 was out of the question. Magnus with his long history of making pills was sent in with the caravan while Minervina snuck in on her own using many of her mind altering drugs to avoid detection. Magnus was able to easily walk through the front gate laughing interally at the thought of Minervina having to work so hard to sneak in. Later, Magnus, in his undercover disguise, actually heard tales of Memory-Thieving Spirit at the local tavern. It looked like Minverina was not the most skilled at stealth work and had to adjust the memories of almost a dozen people. It ended up scaring the townsfolk so much many of them stayed indoors at night, making it harder for Magnus to have an excuse to sneak around at night. Soon afterward, rumors of a ghost hissing " Baaaaaarrrrrrrrddda" would sweep through the town.

*Magnus POV*

'Damnit Barda, Did you have to scare half the town? The Guards are actually paying attention at night.' I thought to myself and I had to hide form the diligently patrolling guards. "Baaarrrrrrdddddddda...." I hiss in annoyance once again.

I carefully and so very slowly moved in the shadows towards the mine and the stored drill. The guards at the mine were no less vigilant, or at least they were on the surface. To the average observer, the guard appeared to be no different then normal, but to my trained eye it was obvious they were hit with a memory wipe. The guards had glazed looks in their eyes and were looking at nothing.

'Looks like Barda's work. She really need to learn a stealth technique that isn't terrible. It could save her a fortune on materials for mind altering poisons.' I thought please that I didn't waste money on this.

Still, it did make infiltrating much easier as I only had to follow the path of dazed and confused guards. I finally made it to the drill to see Barda finishing up with the second layer of poison for the drill. I was tasked with the final outer layer for the drill. I knew Barda was a stronger poison master than me, so if I added the outer layer, the Jingshen clan fools might see my work and not think there was more to it.

I nod to Barda as she move to the side to let me get to work. Taking out my new arms, I began adding my layer of poison to the drill. My new arms let me work several times fast than a normal person, and that is why I could see Barda leaving the foreman's office. As soon as I finished, I rushed into the office myself to see it searched with only 1 Core grade spirit stone left. I didn't know how many she took at the time for I was too happy with such a find. It was only after I got back that I found out she had taken the lion's share and made a huge jump in cultivation again.

"Baaarrrrrrdddddddda......"
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@Katana1515 congrats your now my Dinkleburg, also I left a lot of conversation out, I'm bad at it, you can write it in

@Kaboomatic

I want a LST, I'm heading into the Secret realm too and I want to stock up before I go

 

[Quest]

Xiao Yingzi 11
[Turn 7]
[An Open Discussion]​

A fractal image formed in her mind, slowly unveiling different aspects of her form as she turned it over this way and that. At first it seemed like a simple model of her physical body, made of bones and knots of blood and muscles but as she examined it, she began to recognise her acu-pressure points where qi concentrated more densely.

Then following the flow of qi through them, she found the meridians carved into her body by the work of Elder Teleos as he had brought her to the sixth heavenstage. They were a marvel and a revelation, cut into her by the hands of a master artisan to bring out her shine as if she was a diamond being worked upon.

It was as she studied those and found something more, that she faltered. The dantian were nine structures in one's body where qi pooled and they served as the anchors for the pillars that become the foundations for one's dao. It was what told her this wasn't merely a representation of what was, but what could be. Good, so you can look that deeply into it without aid. The elder remarked, picking up the train of her thoughts. Examine my proposal and tell me what you think.

Xiao Yingzi sent him a feeling of assent and studied it. If they were weak or underdeveloped, she knew that her cultivation would halt half-way through Foundation Building so ensuring that they were perfect was important. And so when she found what seemed like a mistake in the proposal given by her elder, she couldn't help but frown. Forgive me, Elder. She began carefully, but I don't see how this model you've given me will work. Am I missing something?

You are. Elder Teleos agreed with a mental smile. Give me your honest observations.

Xiao Yingzi paused and considered the source of her objections. Ideally, one should give at least seven of the nine dantian enough attention to ensure that they can form a core, she began. In this case, all of that attention has been given to a single dantian. While it can certainly survive heavenly tribulation, the cultivator would be unable to advance beyond the Fortified First Pillar.

You noticed that, didn't you? He said, a sense of accomplishment emanating from him. I designed that based upon the writings of that Callista girl of the workings of the Single Pillar Method.

She discarded the mental image from her mind and gave the elder her full mental attention as she considered the implications of his words. You intend for me to seek the thirteenth heavenstage!? And then she paused and brought the image to mind again, examining it carefully. No, while one uninformed could certainly make that assumption, Senior Callista's writings make it clear that this would be the wrong approach. Unless… Perhaps you know something she did not?

Elder Teleos gave a self-deprecating laugh. As much as I would like to claim otherwise, that path isn't something I am terribly familiar with. It would be irresponsible of me to lead you down that road without understanding it myself.

Ah. It wouldn't have made sense after all. Despite all of her talent, she knew she didn't compare to Senior Callista. What are you proposing then?

In order for you to pursue the Dao I have envisioned for you, you require a strong set of dantian as your foundation. Of course, doing so for all of them would take far too long so we will focus on one and use it as a model to forcibly expand the rest during tribulation.

Xiao Yingzi blinked at the suggestion. You mean to use the tribulation as fuel for my cultivation?

A tribulation already works to transform the body should you survive it, He pointed out. And heaven directs an excess amount of power towards us anyway for merely being who we are. We might as well put that energy to use somehow.

It is said that Heavenly Tribulation is two parts killing intent to eight parts vital force. And for us, it is the other way around. Xiao Yingzi mused, mind leaping as she tried to put together his thought process. I cultivate by having my spirit consume my emotion, then purify it before absorbing it and what is killing intent but a form of emotion?

Yes! Yes! He exclaimed with sudden glee, causing her to flinch. You understand! We shall wrench power from the very will of heaven to build upon our magnum opus. It's powers shall be subverted for our own use!

What are you planning exactly? She asked with sudden trepidation. His exultation sputtered at her question, and she felt him quieten down as he considered it. Finally, he replied apologetically. I cannot yet speak to you of the full scope of my grand schemes, as much as I may wish to. Even voicing them without the proper precautions may lead to their undoing. I would ask that you extend to me your trust to me until we may speak freely.

When would that be? Xiao Yingzi asked, weighing his admission carefully.

The Fortified First Pillar, He promised. Reach that level of power and I shall explain everything to you. We shall work as equals as soon as you are able.

Xiao Yingzi considered that and after a moment, she nodded. He had given no reason for distrust so far, and… a part of her wished to see what he would make of her. An equal…. Instead of voicing anything further, she simply focused on the plan as she knew it. I understand what I have to do in theory, but putting it into practise while facing heavenly tribulation is not something that would be simple.

It certainly wouldn't be. The elder agreed. That is why we will practise beforehand.
She blinked. What do you mean by that?

You'll see, He replied with amusement. We should be ready to break through by the end of the decade.

With that ominous ending, the elder's will began to fade back into sleep. Xiao Yingzi frowned at the spear but knew from previous conversations that he wouldn't respond whether from his sense of drama or because he had completely expended whatever amount of energy he had gathered in order to speak to her.

Based upon his timing, she suspected this time it was the former.

With a sigh, she returned to cultivating. She really hoped he was more talkative once she was stronger.

In more ways than one.

 

[wrecksalot]

It logically would be superior I think. As a cultivator cultivates, their body is improved. So gravebronze processed from the body of a ninth heavenstage cultivator would be able to withstand blows of that level and be already streamlined for formations and standard golden devil arts. A sword with like a centurion's nerve running through it's edge would be an incredible treasure for juniors as it would conduct qi beyond anything a qi condensing cultivator would be capable of by themselves.

I imagine there would be a full sub-industry with Legate-class gravebronze even retaining aspects of their daos and being carefully controlled resources for use in arrays and items.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, we know that the body of a Cultivator is a valuable resource, so it makes sense that bronze made from it would be potent. I wonder if the Golden Devils have blood drives. I could see a Core Formation Elder who draws their own blood to forge mighty treasures for their descendents. Probably a lot less potent than gravebronze of the same Cultivator, but it would still be a treasure for a Qi Condensation Junior.

 

[Quest]

Yeah, we know that the body of a Cultivator is a valuable resource, so it makes sense that bronze made from it would be potent. I wonder if the Golden Devils have blood drives. I could see a Core Formation Elder who draws their own blood to forge mighty treasures for their descendents. Probably a lot less potent than gravebronze of the same Cultivator, but it would still be a treasure for a Qi Condensation Junior.

Click to shrink...

The Taurus clan from Antonius' sidestories actually uses bronze thread for arrays and general weaver combat. While extra-potent ancestral string exists, most of the threads are actually forged from drawing their blood and then magically amplifying the bronze present in it.

 

[Quest]

Xiao Yingzi 12
[Turn 7]
[A Mountaintop Adventure]​

There was a flash and the sound crackling as Xiao Yingzi found herself standing on a mountaintop, body burning with energy as a storm raged around her. Panic grew inside her as she frantically looked around, trying to make a sense of her situation. Even as she did so, she felt the winds begin to lift her off her feet. She instinctively kicked down to the ground and grasped it with her qi and her eyes widened as she felt herself struggle despite now having the strength of the ninth heavenstage.

She looked around and saw her banner-pole spear, planted on the ground just a distance away and held her hands out for it, even though it was too far to reach. To her shock, her shadow did not reach out and grab it for her. Instead, a spark jumped from the tips of her finger and struck the spear before being grounded.

What?

The moment of surprise was enough and she felt the winds lift her off the ground. A chill went up her spine as she floated over the edge, high enough that she knew she would die if she fell and a sinking feeling seized her stomach as she realized she had no way to save herself. I'm going to die. She felt herself thinking. I'm going to die.

Then there was a hard jerk on her stomach and she found herself stopped. She looked down to see a rope tied around her, and followed it's length to see it end tied to a nail next to her spear. It took her a precious moment to recover, caught between the push of the winds and the pull of the rope. Then the winds shifted and she found herself falling. Some instinct had her grab the side of the wall with qi and prevented her from smashing into the wall. Would that even hurt her? She couldn't remember.

She focused on what she could - climbing up the side of the mountain to the peak her spear was stuck to. Once she reached the top, she held herself close to the earth - crawling rather than walking and grasping the ground with all four of her limbs. The wind shifted, blowing straight into her face and nearly carried her off again but the new position helped keep her grounded.

Slowly she crawled to the spear and when as she reached out for it, sparks running between it and her outstretched hand. It made her hesitate, but she took a breath and she grasped it. She screamed as a thunderbolt ran through her body and then grounded itself through the spear. She nearly let go, but the instincts as before took over and made her tighten her grip instead. It left her damaged and hurting, but she still held on.

She pulled herself forward and hugged the spear close. "Why are we here?" She asked out loud, hoping the elder would answer. Why couldn't she focus enough to project her thoughts to him "Elder Teleos? Please answer me!"

Rain began to fall like drops of lead upon her and she felt her composure, unstrained even in front of a battle between nascent powers nearly crack when she thought he wouldn't answer. She finally felt the ancient will stir. You are far too reliant upon your shadow. The elder observed unhelpfully, instead of somehow explaining what was going on. We will need to work on that once we are done here.

She could only growl in response to his admonishment. "Why am I so terrified?" She asked, not knowing if the water streaming down her face was tears or merely the rain. "I should be better than this! I should be under control!"

Hmmm. A degree of mental confusion as well? The Elder observed her so clinically, it irritated her so much. "Tell me what's going on!" She demanded, never having felt so useless in her life.

Somehow, he listened and she felt his attention on her. I will explain the situation to you, in the hopes that it will jog your memory. He began and simply started lecturing her as if she wasn't holding on for dear life. She wordlessly growled in response. The Legate before me for the 1178th Legion and the original owner of your spear - though it was still a banner then - was a fellow who pursued the Dao of Rebellion. One of his favored tactics was deliberately invoking heaven's wrath and diverting it to strike his enemies.

"What does that have to do with anything to do with this!?" She asked, far more irritated by it then she should have been. Fear didn't retreat entirely, but she felt a strange anger grow inside her as he continued.

Why everything of course. He replied, sounding insufferably amused. The spear you hold is carved with names in the Legion's Old Tongue and even the legion's own provocative name - Through Countless Deaths, Unshaken. It is a challenge to the heavens. Holding the banner aloft and invoking the full name of the legion would force the heavens to respond.

Xiao Yingzi stared at the spear she was clinging to for dear life with her eyes wide, mind racing as she began to put things together. It lacks that particular functionality entirely now of course, The elder said, seeming endlessly amused by some notion. But it still suffices perfectly as a lightning rod.

That did it.

It wasn't the storm.

It wasn't even being struck by heavenly lightning.

No, it was this spear turning all of that into a joke.

She growled and grit her teeth. She pulled herself up, holding the spear tightly to prevent the wind from blowing her away. What are you attempting to do Xiao Yingzi? The insufferable senior asked her curiously. It would be best to wait until you completely recover before you move.

She ignored him, instead carefully readjusting her grip of the spear. Xiao Yingzi? Xiao Yingzi!? His voice grew more insistent as he realized the direction her thoughts were turning to. That's a really bad idea. Please stop this! The edge of genuine concern in his voice only spurred her on even more.

Putting all of her strength into it, she wrenched it out.

With no anchor, the wind flung her into the sky and while the rope caught her, the spear was gone - no, it was still held in her hand by that same instincts that had aided her before. The voices in the spear, or perhaps even Teleos himself. Xiao Yingzi, please reconsider. He implored again. You will regret this decision a moment later.

Caught between the wind and rope, Xiao Yingzi considered his argument. "No." She whispered, gleeful in denying him. Then she held up the spear and deliberately, forcibly let. It. Go.

As it fell, her shadow blossomed under her feet but she was her shadow and it would never reach for the spear while she felt as she did. Then her rage disappeared, swallowed by her shadow. Fear over-rode her and she grasped for it, but her fingers barely grazed it. Her mind raced and then the fear drained out of her, leaving her pure analytical mind. She extended her will to the spear and drew upon it's guidance, extending her leg and catching it - barely - within the curve of her foot.

Oh thank god. The elder's voice surged into her mind tinged with relief. I did not look forward spending the next hundred years stuck in some crack of stone.

Drawing upon the surety of the spear, she gauged the winds and at an opportune moment she kicked it up - timing things such that it flew exactly in her hands. Then she threw it with all the strength she could muster, embedding into the stone anchoring it before pulling herself along the rope and grasping the spear. My connection with the spear is much stronger with my shadow present. She observed curiously, as she adjusted her balance to avoid the shifting winds.

It's attuned to your usual mindset, Elder Teleos explained off-handedly as he tried to gather his thoughts once more. The strong emotions threw it off.

What were your observations of the experiment? She asked him immediately, her memories coming back to her as both emotion and lightning cleared. Did you get what you desired?

If I still had a heart, I fear it might have stopped from the shock of how outside of my calculations this experiment went. He replied, but the emotions she gleaned from him wasn't disdain but a strange admiration. What did you observe?

That emotions are useful tools but I think this only proves the irrationality that they can lead to. She replied, frowning. They contain both advantages and disadvantages. When he didn't answer immediately, she sighed and waited. As she adjusted to the rains and winds, she took a moment to wipe her face. So this was what it felt like to cry? Interesting. Though it wasn't meant for him, the thought seemed to prompt Elder Teleos to respond.

It was obvious to me that the lightning would dissipate your shadow. He began, summarizing what she already knew. But she nodded along, knowing him well enough now to know that he was simply gathering his thoughts. Heavenly lightning is it's elemental antithesis so how could it not? But it remains true that heavenly lightning is composed of killing intent which is something your particular shadow spirit devours. So in order to plan for your tribulation, I needed to gauge how our emotional self would act in that moment.

And what was your verdict? She asked him curiously.

There were many ways you could have responded. He replied, his voice measured. I had feared despair and it's ilk. His voice began to become giddy she had learnt happened when he was excited about a project. But utter spite and defiance in the face of death? Yes, I believe I can certainly work with that as irrational as you might think it.

Xiao Yingzi simply nodded in response, differing to the experience of her elder and considered what she could do to improve her chances. She had gotten a good feel of the 'killing intent' of heaven. Then a thought occurred to her. How long do you estimate this storm will continue? She asked, realizing a more immediate and practical concern.

I estimate about two more hours. Do you think you will be fine?

Xiao Yingzi sighed. I will manage.

 

[TehChron]

. I wonder if the Golden Devils have blood drives

Click to shrink...

They do

For certain defensive structures

 

[fictionfan]

Abel Angelus​

Hiring
I am an idiot. I have been convinced that I can't replicate any technology from my world because I am lacking the time and it is true that I am incredibly busy training my marshal skills for the coming trials. But all the stuff I am thinking about making doesn't need a cultivator to make it. All of it was invented by non-cultivators. Mortals are common and as a cultivator even just a one in the first heavenstage I am part of the 1%.

1 contribution point got me a million Ungu. Which is I assume a lot of money by mortal standards because when I went to a mortal alchemist (I think his name was An Na?) and told him to combine sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter in different ratios and record all the results paying him 10 thousand Ungu upfront and promising a thousand Ungu for each combination so long as it was properly recorded. He was completely overjoyed bowing and scraping, promising that he would put my order ahead of all other work. I made sure to warn him that the results I wanted were likely to explode, but he waved me off saying "When you do alchemical experiments explosions are a given".

Hiring a mortal blacksmith to make an actual gun was trickier. Not due to any unwillingness, but because I had to carefully explain what I wanted. Drawing up diagrams from memories. I think I am going to have to settle for a muzzleloader at least for this first prototype. It isn't going to be a gun more like a hand cannon, but hey I'm a cultivator shouldn't be too hard to lug around. Also better then the first muzzleloader cannons in that I get rifling and shaped bullets.
----------------------------------
In the end I have to add a small array to the handcannon to ignite the powder reliably and when I want it to. If I just dropped a match down the barrel I would never hit anything moving. I feel dirty as if I cheated. My design just wasn't good enough so I cut corners with qi. Well this isn't the final model and it can already blow a Qi Condensation 5 apart.

Someday I will have my own machine gun.

@Alectai, @TehChron, @Humbaba, @ReaderOfFate, @Kaboomatic another Omake for the surviving the trials rolls. Abel now has more fate power then Alex and Ajex had in their whole bodies. Both of them.